“That sounds a decent enough arrangement. How are the girls getting on at Alleyn’s?”

“Loving it.” Dan took a drink of beer. “I should never have taken them away in the first place.”

“C’est la vie,” Nick said, raising his glass. “So it’s back to the old times, then.”

“Almost.”

Nick leaned his elbows on the table. “I’ve really enjoyed working with you again, Dan. It’s been great having you in the office over the past few months. It’s given the whole place a boost.”

“Well, I have you to thank for getting me the job.”

“Think nothing of it. By the way”—he picked up the business supplement and leafed quickly through it and then folded it twice—“you’ve got your name in the papers again.” He handed it over to Dan.

Dan read quickly through the short article about the proposed merger between Broughton’s and Car-swell Asset Management and then lobbed the supplement back onto the bench. He noticed in the pile of newspapers the gaudy red title page of the News of the World . He scoffed and shook his head. “Honestly, Nick, I don’t know why you bother reading all that crap.”

Nick glanced down at his newspapers. “To which publication are you referring in such disparaging terms?”

“The News of the World, Nick. It’s a load of rubbish.”

“It is not!” Nick retorted, pulling the paper out from below the pile. “I think it’s great. The News of the World is the master of the pun.” He opened up the broadsheet and began scanning its pages. “This, for instance. ‘Tellers a Story about Williams Bonk.’ Now tellers is spelt t-e-l-l-e-r-s. What do you think that’s about?”

“I have no idea.”

“Two tellers were caught on the security camera of Williams Bank having it off in the safe.”

“That’s very good. I wonder why I didn’t guess.”

“Right. I’ll try another one on you.” Nick turned the page and sought out his next tacky headline. “Okay, this one. ‘Strip Cartoon in Leicester Square Keeps Abreast with Technology.’ Any idea?”

Dan let out a sigh. “Well, it’s got to be something to do with breasts.”

“Yes?” Nick said, slanting his eyes at Dan, wanting him to go into a little more depth.

“I have no idea, Nick.”